“I’m working with a career coach and he recommended this 1946 book. I found it helpful to really focus on the positive in life and work. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and problems we need to deal with, but if someone in a concentration camp can find purpose and meaning in their life, surely I can shift my mindset to intentionally focus on finding meaningful purpose in life.”

—Amy Roberts, partner, Grant Thornton, Minneapolis

Power Moves by Adam Grant

“Adam Grant’s latest brainchild is about power and what it reveals in those who think they have it and in leaders who are losing their power. ‘New power’ is about building your own networks, finding new solutions, and working against the grain to create new things.”

—Aleesha Webb, president, Village Bank

Becoming by Michelle Obama

“She’s very candid, as we’ve known her to be. Any woman can benefit from reading this book because she’s so sophisticated and articulate. To remain as graceful as she did [through her experiences], that’s priceless.”

The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea, by Bob Burg and John David Mann

“I was raised that you give onto others and it will come back to you tenfold. This book takes that to a whole new level. It is simple and has ideas that you can implement right away to help you lead a more authentic and happy life.”

“I love it as a complement to my electronic calendaring. I am a visual person, so being able to see a month at a glance is a habit I cannot break. It doubles as my briefcase, as I never run out of business cards or paper. I guess it’s my ‘business blankie’ for keeping my life in order, and it’s often a conversation starter too.”

“It does a great job of highlighting the best restaurants each city has to offer in a concise way so that I can quickly figure out which places I want to eat at wherever I travel. I love that it is frequently updated to include new restaurants, and I also love their map function.”

—Josh Resnik, CEO, Twin Cities Co-op Partners

Tasks in a Box

“I found this Microsoft Office add-on by accident. It’s an awesome tool to help clear out my inbox and schedule emails to come back into my inbox when they are relevant. Helps me manage my day, week, and month.”

—Ashok Dhariwal, owner, Yoga Fit Studios, Twin Cities

Apple Pencil

“It automatically pairs and charges when magnetically attached to the new 11-inch iPad. It’s a wonderful blend of function and fun!”

“I use it as a work space with a social flair. You cannot beat the funky rooftop for entertaining my favorite friends and colleagues downtown.”

—Amy Langer, co-founder, SALO

Meal Delivery | Hello Fresh

“As a busy executive with a toddler, anything I can outsource, I do. Hello Fresh took away meal planning and builds in accountability that our family will prepare at least two home-cooked meals a week. The meals are good (some are better than others) and for around $70 weekly, there are weeks where we save money because we’re eating out less. It doesn’t hurt that the meals are fairly healthy, too.”

Twin Cities Business is Minnesota's leading provider of business news, insight, and analysis through daily online news stories, e-newsletters, a monthly print magazine and live events. Along with our readers, we get to know the personalities of our region’s most influential leaders, exploring the “how” behind their success, strategies, and solutions.